Device and method for creating bodysuits from shirts and blouses, and bodysuit related thereto

ABSTRACT

A device for creating a body suit from a shirt or blouse including a front panel, the front panel having a front panel front and a front panel rear. A rear panel has a rear panel front and a rear panel rear, the rear panel front attached to the front panel rear via a detachable connection. At least two front connectors are attached to the front panel front for attaching to the shirt or blouse; and at least two rear connectors are attached to the rear panel rear and for attaching to the shirt or blouse. A method and modular bodysuit are also provided.

The present invention relates generally to clothing and more particularly to devices and methods for attaching to shirts and blouses, and relates as well as to bodysuits.

BACKGROUND

U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,727,247, 5,276,923, 5,177,813, 5,177,814, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0089718 and U.S. Design Pat. No. D611678 describe hold down devices for shirts that attach and detach at the shirt.

U.S. Design Pat. No. D738070 describes a shirt stay.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device for creating a body suit from a shirt or blouse comprising:

a front panel, the front panel having a front panel front and a front panel rear;

a rear panel, the rear panel having a rear panel front and a rear panel rear, the rear panel front attached to the front panel rear via a detachable connection;

at least two front connectors, the front connectors attached to the front panel front and for attaching to the shirt or blouse; and

at least two rear connectors, the rear connectors attached to the rear panel rear and for attaching to the shirt or blouse.

The detachable connection may include at least one hook for interacting with at least one loop, and preferably a plurality of hooks and loops, and preferably made of metal or hard plastic.

A VELCRO, i.e. hook and loop, or snap connection is also possible, the snap connections preferably including a plurality of snaps.

The front and rear connectors can include clips for clipping to the shirt or blouse, which advantageously permits connection to any shirt or blouse. Alternatively, the shirt or blouse also could have holes or snaps specifically designed for the front and rear connectors.

The front connectors advantageously may be at the ends of a single front band, the front panel then connected to the single front band between the ends, for example via stitching, to the front panel front. The ends of the single band may then extend beyond the front panel to provide for adequate length between the crotch area and the shirt or blouse. The band may include length adjusters between the front panel and the front connectors, for example adjustable end loops. The rear connectors may similarly be at ends of a single rear band, with length adjusters as well, and the rear single band connected, for example via stitching, to the rear panel rear.

Advantageously, the band can be elastic, even with the length adjusters present, so that when stretched and connected to the shirt or blouse, the shirt or blouse remains taut. A preferred material for the band is polyester satin lingerie ribbon, with a preferred width of ⅝″ or ½″.

The front and rear panels may be made a material that is easily washable and slightly stretchable as well, preferably made of soft LYCRA or soft LYCRA blend, as well as NYLON or polyester, and possibly in lace form. Cotton blends could also be used, for example for institutional applications.

The present invention also provides a method for modifying a blouse or shirt into a bodysuit comprising:

attaching a front panel at at least two front connection points to the blouse or shirt; and

attaching a rear panel at at least two rear connection points to the blouse or shirt, the rear panel being unconnected from the front panel.

The method can then include placing the front panel and rear panel around a crotch area while connected to the blouse or shirt, and connecting the front and rear panel.

The present invention also provides a modular bodysuit comprising:

a shirt or blouse;

a front panel, the front panel having a front panel front and a front panel rear;

a rear panel, the rear panel having a rear panel front and a rear panel rear, the rear panel front attached to the front panel rear via a detachable connection;

at least two front connectors, the front connectors attached to the front panel front and attached to the shirt or blouse; and

at least two rear connectors, the rear connectors attached to the rear panel rear and attached to the shirt or blouse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood upon reading the description which follows, given purely by way of example and with reference being made to the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top schematic view of an embodiment of the device of the present invention with a hook and loop connection;

FIG. 2 shows a VELCRO, i.e. hook and loop connection;

FIG. 3 shows a snap connection;

FIG. 4 shows a modular bodysuit according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a further possible connection for the device of the present invention to a shirt or blouse.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a top schematic view of an embodiment of a device 10 of the present invention. A front panel 12 has a front panel front 14 and a front panel rear 16. A rear panel 22 has a rear panel front 24 and a rear panel rear 26. Rear panel front 24 is removably attachable to front panel rear 16 via a detachable connection 30, here show in the form of three hooks 32, 33, 34 and three loops 42, 43, 44. A second set of loops 52, 53, 54 can be provided inwardly of the first set of loops 42, 43, 44, so that for example a length of the device in a connected state in the direction L is adjustable. Hooks 32, 33, 34 thus can connect to loops 42, 43 and 44, respectively, or alternately to loops 52, 53, 54, respectively.

Hooks 32, 33, 34, and loops 42, 43, 44, 52, 53, 54 preferably are made of a rigid material such as metal or hard plastic and can be connected to the respective panels 12, 22 via for example stitching, in a manner know for example from bra back connections.

Front panel 12 is connected via stitching 50 at front panel front 14 to a front band 40, made preferably of elastic material. Preferably the front edge of the front patent front 14 aligns with the outer side edge 41 of front band 40, so that a maximum possible stitching area is available.

Rear panel 22 is connected via stitching 51 at rear panel rear 26 to a rear band 60, made preferably of elastic material. Preferably the rear edge of the rear patent rear 26 aligns with the outer side edge 61 of rear band 60, so that a maximum possible stitching area is available. Rear panel 22 advantageously can be longer in direction L than front panel 12, which provides better fitting to most body shapes. The width of both front panel 12 and rear panel 22 in a direction W preferably is less than a respective panel length in direction L, and the width of front panel 12 and rear panel 22 preferably increases from detachable connection 30 toward the respective band 40, 60. The width over the respective length of each of front panel 12 and rear panel 22 though preferably remains below the respective panel length in direction L.

Front band 40 has two adjusters 48, 49 connected at its ends. Front band 40 loops back through the adjusters 48, 49 to form two end loops, 46, 47 respectively. End loops 46, 47 are adjustable individually in size, with adjusters 48, 49 movable up to front panel 12, thus permitting adjustability of the length of front band 40 in direction W.

Loops 46, 47 can loop around connection slits of front connectors 72, 74, respectively. Front connectors 72, 74 can be for example claw snap connectors similar to those known for example from suspenders. Front connectors 72, 74 thus can connect at any point along a shirt or blouse as will be described below.

Similar to front band 40, rear band 60 has two adjusters 68, 69 connected at its ends. Rear band 60 loops back through the adjusters 68, 69 to form two end loops, 66, 67 respectively. End loops 66, 67 are adjustable individually in size, with adjusters 68, 69 movable up to tear panel 22, thus permitting adjustability of the length of rear band 60 in direction W.

FIG. 2 shows an alternate to hook and loop connection 30, namely a VELCRO, i.e. hook and loop, connection 130, where front panel 12 has for example the loop side 132 of VELCRO, i.e. hook and loop, connection 130, and rear panel 22 has a hook side of VELCRO, i.e. hook and loop, connection 130, though as with connection 30, the connection sides can be flipped.

FIG. 3 shows a snap connection 230, with three snaps, including male snap connectors 232, 233, 234 which can connect with female snap connectors 242, 243, 244, respectively. A second row of female connectors 252, 253, 254 can be provided for length adjustablility in direction L.

FIG. 4 shows, schematically from the rear, a modular bodysuit 200 according to the present invention, and including in this embodiment a shirt 100 and device 10 described in FIG. 1. Device 10 is detachably connected to shirt 100 via front connectors 72, 74 and rear connectors 82, 84. Detachable connection 30 can be left unconnected for placement and removal of the modular bodysuit 200 during dressing. Any shirt or blouse can thus advantageously be converted into a modular bodysuit 200, and the device 10 left on the shirt or blouse, or removed as desired. Once dressed, a person can connected the device 10 at connection 30, so that shirt 100 and modular bodysuit 200 is pulled taut.

FIG. 5 shows a further possible connection for the device of the present invention to a shirt or blouse. Shirt 100 can have four or more pre-placed holes 101, and a connector 174 can be used instead of connectors 72, 74, 84, 82, connector 174 having a female rigid part 176, with a hole 177 having a wider base than a top. A flexible male part 177 has a button top 179 than can fit through hole 101 and into wide base of hole 178 and slide upward into the narrow top, thus securing the device of the present invention to the shirt 100. 

1. A device for creating a body suit from a shirt or blouse comprising: a front panel, the front panel having a front panel front and a front panel rear, the front panel having a length between the front panel front and the front panel rear and a width perpendicular to the length; a rear panel, the rear panel having a rear panel front and a rear panel rear, the rear panel front attached to the front panel rear via a detachable connection; a single front band aligned along the front panel front and extending from sides of the front panel, the single front band extending between a front band first end and a front band second end; two front connectors, a first front connector of the two front connectors attached to the front band first end and for attaching to the shirt or blouse; and a second front connector of the two front connectors attached to the front band second end and for attaching to the shirt or blouse; and a single rear band aligned along the rear panel rear and extending from sides of the rear panel, the single rear band extending between a rear band first end and a rear band second end; two rear connectors, a first rear connector of the rear connectors attached to the rear band first end and for attaching to the shirt or blouse; and a second rear connector of the two rear connectors attached to the rear band second end and for attaching to the shirt or blouse; the width of the front panel increasing from the detachable connection toward the single front band.
 2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the detachable connection includes at least one hook for interacting with at least one loop.
 3. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the detachable connection includes a plurality of hooks and loops, with two parallel rows of loops to permit length adjustability of the device.
 4. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the detachable connection includes a hook and loop connection.
 5. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the detachable connection includes at least one snap.
 6. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the detachable connection includes a plurality of snaps, including at least one row of male connectors and at least one row of female connectors, and at least one further row of male or female connectors to permit length adjustability of the device.
 7. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the front and rear connectors include clips for clipping to the shirt or blouse.
 8. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the front and rear connectors have a mating connectors for fitting though holes in the shirt of blouse.
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the front panel is connected to the single front band via stitching to the front panel front.
 12. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the front band first end and the front band second end each include length adjusters, the first and second front connectors each being attached to adjustable end loops.
 13. (canceled)
 14. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the rear panel is connected to the single rear band via stitching to the rear panel rear.
 15. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the rear band first end and the rear band second end each include further length adjusters, the first and second rear connectors each being attached to further adjustable end loops.
 16. A method for modifying a blouse or shirt into a bodysuit comprising: attaching a front panel at at least two front connection points to the blouse or shirt using a first front connector and a second front connector, a single front band aligned along a front of the front panel and extending from sides of the front panel, the single front band extending between a front band first end and a front band second end, the first front connector of the two front connectors attached to the front band first end and the second front connector attached to the front band second end and for attaching to the shirt or blouse; and attaching a rear panel at at least two rear connection points to the blouse or shirt, the rear panel being unconnected from the front panel; and adjusting a length of the front band using a first adjuster at the front band first end and a second adjuster at the front band second end.
 17. The method as recited in claim 16 further comprising placing the front panel and rear panel around a crotch area while connected to the blouse or shirt, and connecting the front and rear panel.
 18. A modular bodysuit comprising: a shirt or blouse; a front panel, the front panel having a front panel front and a front panel rear; a rear panel, the rear panel having a rear panel front and a rear panel rear, the rear panel front attached to the front panel rear via a detachable connection; at least two front connectors, the front connectors attached to a single front band aligned along the front panel front and extending from sides of the front panel and attached to the shirt or blouse; and at least two rear connectors, the rear connectors attached to a single rear band aligned along the rear panel rear and attached to the shirt or blouse.
 19. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the width of the front panel is less than the length of the front panel.
 20. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein a rear panel width increases from the detachable connection toward the single rear band. 